Published 19 February 2019 • Inter IKEA newsroom

IKEA introduces a new way to reduce indoor air pollution with a curtain

Soon it will be possible to reduce common indoor air pollutants using just a curtain. The mineral-based surface treatment enables the new IKEA GUNRID curtain to break down air pollutants as they come into contact with daylight.

Air pollution is a global issue and particularly problematic in megacities. According to WHO around 90% of people worldwide breathe polluted air, which is estimated to cause eight million deaths per year. IKEA has committed to contributing to a world of clean air, by actively reducing air pollutants and also enabling people to purify the air in their homes. The GUNRID air purifying curtain is a new step in this journey.

“Besides enabling people to breathe better air at home, we hope that GUNRID will increase people’s awareness of indoor air pollution, inspiring behavioural changes that contribute to a world of clean air,” says Lena Pripp-Kovac, Head of Sustainability at Inter IKEA Group. “GUNRID is the first product to use the technology, but the development will give us opportunities for future applications on other textiles.”

The curtain uses a unique technology, which has been developed by IKEA over the last years together with universities in Europe and Asia, as well as IKEA suppliers and innovators. By applying a thin, mineral based surface treatment to a fabric, it enables it to reduce common indoor air pollutants like odours and acetaldehyde. The photocatalyst surface of the fabric captures indoor air pollutants and uses daylight to break them down.

“For me, it’s important to work on products that solve actual problems and are relevant to people. Textiles are used across homes and by enabling a curtain to purify the air, we are creating an affordable and space-saving air purifying solution that also makes the home more beautiful,” says Mauricio Affonso, Product Developer at IKEA Range & Supply.

For many years, IKEA has been reducing air pollution from its own operations by phasing out hazardous chemicals and reducing air emissions. Last year, IKEA launched the Better Air Now! initiative, aiming to turn rice straw – a rice harvesting residue that is traditionally burned and contributes heavily to air pollution – into a new renewable material source for IKEA products. IKEA has also committed to becoming climate positive by 2030, reducing our overall climate footprint by 70% on average per product (compared to 2016).

“We know that there is no single solution to solve air pollution. We work long term for positive change, to enable people to live healthier and more sustainable lives,” says Lena Pripp-Kovac.

The GUNRID air purifying curtain will be available in IKEA stores across Europe in February 2020, and Asia and North America in April 2020.